Monday, April 1, 2013
A lawsuit supported in part by Chuck’s Gun Shop in south suburban Riverdale is not enough to get in the way of President Preckwinkle’s new $25 firearm sales tax.
Beginning April 1, a $25 tax will be added to the purchase of all firearms sold in Cook County. The news comes in spite of a lawsuit filed by several Chicago-area gun dealers, including Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale. The new tax is part of a policy instated by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle to help fund the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. At their flagship, Stroger Hospital, more than 30 percent of the trauma center patients are gunshot victims, each costing roughly $50,000 to treat, according to Preckinkle. The $600,000 expected annual revenue from the tax will ideally help offset those costs, reports Sun-Times Media. "This new policy will help us provide more resources to our vital public health system, which on a daily …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The county hopes to help smokers quit the habit and raise more money with this recent tax hike.
Cook County smokers will have to shell out more than ever after last Friday’s $1 cigarette tax hike. This comes on top of an additional $1 jump on the state level last June. The county is hoping to receive an extra $25.6 million from the increase, but historic examples suggest the figure might be wishful thinking, according to the Chicago Tribune. In additional to the estimated revenue, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle hopes the initiative will deter youths from smoking and help current smokers kick the habit. Get the rest of the story by the Chicago Tribune.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Cook County passed an ordinance Tuesday afternoon mandating any lost weapons be reported to the Sheriff within two days.
Gun owners who sell, lose, destroy, transfer or have a firearm stolen in the county are now legally required to report it to the Sheriff’s office within 48 hours thanks to a new Cook County ordinance. The new law, passed Tuesday afternoon, will require firearm owners report the make, model and serial number of the stolen firearm, along with the date and location of purchase. Individuals who fail to comply will be subject to an initial $1,000 fine, followed by $1,500 for each gun on the second offense and $2,000 for each subsequent violation, according to a press release from the county. Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle applauded the passage of the ordinance. She says it’s a step in the right direction. “We are giving law …
Friday, February 1, 2013
The board president says extending Joe Orr Road into Indiana will greatly benefit municipalities in south-east Cook County.
Joe Orr Road was recently realigned and will be extended into Indiana, and the benefits of the 1.3 mile project are coming, according to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. The project, which started east of Stony Island Avenue and went to Torrence Avenue in Lansing, moved Joe Orr Road further south and expanded it to five lanes, according to the release from the Preckwinkle's office. Torrence also grew to three lanes from the new Joe Orr intersection to the old one. With a future expansion into Munster, IN in mind, a traffic signal was installed at the new intersection as well. "This project reflects the department’s strategic role as an active force in economic development. We recognize that building and improving …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gave a simple explanation for her surprising endorsement.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is endorsing State Sen. Toi Hutchinson in the 2nd Congressional District election, CBS Chicago reports. Preckwinkle chose Hutchinson over Robin Kelly, who was her chief administrative officer for two years. Preckwinkle said Hutchinson is in prime position to win the Feb. 26 primary election, mainly because her legislative district is in the 2nd Congressional District. The board president said she has no problems with Kelly, but went with Hutchinson because she believes the state senator is the "strongest candidate." “There are lots of qualified people in this race but I felt it was important to make a choice and Toi Hutchinson will be the strongest candidate,” Preckwinkle told The Associated …
Michael Nardoni
4:11 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Cook County resident gun buyers can and most will go to near by Counties such as Will, Dupage, Grundy etc, to avoid this $25.00 tax. So in the end Cook County will lose along with Cook County gun shop owners. more ›